Qatar WC’s Bangladesh connection

Bangladesh football team may remain light years away from playing a FIFA World Cup, but the upcoming showpiece event in Qatar has a strong connection to Bangladesh -- regarding the construction of one of the eight World Cup venues this time.  

Hailing from Nilphamari -- a northern district in Bangladesh -- and also a Qatar-resident, engineer Washikur Rahman Shubho served as the chief engineer of the Education City Stadium, which took 10 years to build since construction began in 2010. It is located in Al-Rayyan city, seven kilometres northwest of Qatar's capital Doha.

Washiqur informed local journalists over the phone from Qatar that once the construction of the stadium saw its completion in 2020, the inauguration event had taken place virtually to pay tribute to the frontliners of the coronavirus pandemic.

Washikur during the construction of the Education City Stadium. Photo: Collected

Currently, he is working as a structural engineer on a water park project in Lewis City, Qatar. The park will be used as a part of the fan zone -- built for spectators at the Qatar Football World Cup – composed of several luxurious hotels and motels, villas, shopping malls, water parks, theme parks, and so on. 

General secretary of District Sports Association and former captain of Bangladesh national football team, Arif Hossain Moon, told the Daily Star, "Washikur's special contribution at the Qatar World Cup has made us proud as residents of his district."

Washikur's younger brother, Wasim Bari, who is medical officer in Syedpur's 100-bed hospital, also told the Daily Star, "Though he has earned fame for his successful work abroad, Washikur's passion and feelings for Bangladesh are strong."

Eldest among 3 siblings, Washikur is the son of Sheikh Nazmul Haque of Banshbari mahalla, under Syedpur municipality of Nilphamari district.

The expatriate engineer's father, Nazmul Haque, informed The Daily Star about Washikur's academic journey. 

"Washikur passed his SSC examination in 1992 from Syedpur Railway High School. In 1994, he passed HSC with honors from Syedpur Cantonment Public School and College and was admitted to Khulna University of Engineering and Technology in the Department of Structural Engineering."

After completing graduation and post-graduation from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Washikur moved to Qatar. There, he worked as a structural designer in several American and European consulting firms. 

The report was based on our Nilphamari correspondent's story, written in Bangla.